Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov helped Canada advance to the ATP Cup final for the first time in history after they defeated Daniil Medvedev and Roman Safiullin 4-6, 7-5 (10-7 ) in a doubles match on Saturday, securing a 2-1 victory over Russia.
Canada takes on Spain on Sunday. The duel must begin at 1:30 a.m. Quebec time.
Medvedev and Safiullin were 3-0 in doubles this week, but the Canadiens ended that streak.
Shapovalov started the duel on a positive note for Canada, beating Safiullin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the first of two singles matches scheduled for the day.
World number two Medvedev, however, tied the game by dominating Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-0 in the other singles clash.
“I had to try to stay positive. Of course, it was difficult, especially (because of) the pace of the second set in singles, ”admitted Auger-Aliassime.
“Denis helped me get started again. We had a rough start in doubles. It was a team effort, really, that got us to come from behind that way. This is the ATP Cup. You can still win with a score of 1-1 and after a tough loss in singles. The key is team effort and we are happy to have won, ”added the Montreal tennis player.
On Friday, Roberto Bautista Agut secured Spain’s place in the final when he beat the Polish Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (5).
In the first singles duel, Pablo Carreno Busta gave Spain the lead by defeating Jan Zielinski 6-2, 6-1.
Zielinski was called in at the last minute to replace Kamil Majchrzak, forced to self-isolate following a positive result in a COVID-19 test.
Majchrzak had won all three of their singles matches during the group stage for the Polish team.
Spain beat Canada 2-0 in the Davis Cup final in 2019. Shapovalov intends to help his country avenge this failure.
“We’re definitely going to try to change the scenario,” the Ontarian said in his post-game interview on the court.
“Our team chemistry is amazing. Félix and I have been playing together for a long time, we trust each other and there is no egocentricity. “